The international expansion of the NBA over the years has resulted in incredible talent finding their way to the league. Naturally, there have always been international players in some way in the league but they were far and few in between. Until we saw Dirk Nowitzki become a bonafide MVP-caliber player did we realize that Europe might have some of the best ball players in the world?
That has turned out to be true. The last two year’s All-NBA First Team has featured more European players (3) than American (2), showing how the tides have shifted. Outside that, there are plenty of talented players from Africa and even South America in the league right now.
Nikola Jokic is the reigning 2-time MVP and a Serbian, who is going against New Zealand’s Steven Adams in the Nuggets vs. Grizzlies matchup tonight. When Adams was asked about Jokic and their relationship, Adams had a hilarious comment.
Asked Steven Adams whether there’s a mutual respect between he and Joker:
“I think so. I think it might just be this international clan. It’s kinda weird. We kinda just mock Americans behind their backs. Just so you guys know.”
— Mike Singer (@msinger) December 20, 2022
Adams didn’t mean any actual harm by this comment and just making a slight jibe about the growing strength of international players in the NBA. Watching the centers around the world has to be tough for Team USA knowing their well-documented problems in that position. Unless Joel Embiid plays for them, they will envy having the talents of Jokic or Adams in international games.
Is This The Greatest Era Of International Players In The NBA?
As the game has grown over the years, international participation in the NBA has increased. James Harden was the last American player to win the MVP, with the last 4 years being dominated by Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Serbia’s Nikola Jokic. This year’s preseason MVP favorite was Slovenia’s Luka Doncic, and the runner-up in the last 2 MVP races is Cameroonian/French center Joel Embiid.
Players like Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili, Dirk Nowitzki, and many others played in concurrent eras, but there’s no disputing the jump in talent that international players have had over the last 20 years to start dominating the league.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
